two.

dear stella,

you've now been alive with us for two whole years. it seems like longer, and yet not that long at all.

you seem so old, and yet not that old at all. i guess that's the beauty in each stage.

i'm embracing your two-year-old self. screw the terrible two stereotype. 

your language has taken off to a whole new level. you are doing a ton of short sentences and you let us know exactly what is on your mind. some of your latest phrases include:

"see ya. bye bye" as you put on a bag or purse and head towards the door.
"hold ya" when you want to be held

"i'll show ya"

"no way. no way"
"sorry, _____ " insert animal name

"how are ya?"

"good morning"

"i luff youf, _____ " insert stuffed animal name

"mmmmm. good. good. eating. mmmm"

"i dont fink so"
"fix it"

"ahhhh steam roooooll" - steam roll goldie.

"mahhhhhhhh. pease!"
"boo!"
"i dunno"

you are also very into plurals. you are enjoying labeling who's item (or body part) belongs to whom...

mama's shoes. dada's chin. goldie's mouth. pooh's shirt. doggie's tail.

 

i found something interesting with your language recently. when you want to chime in to either singing or a conversation OR if you just like what we are saying you often come back with a really enthusiastic "hiii. hi. hi. hi." over and over again. it's almost like you can't keep up with the lyrics or conversation fast enough, but you get in a "hi" to let us know you want to be a part of whatever is going on. 

there's nothing you don't try to say at this point. four syllables? no problem... bring on the 

ca-ter-pill-ar words!

one thing is for sure, just when i think you are a prodigy i get my weekly "babycenter" email (though you aren't close to a baby anymore) telling me you are very normal hahaha! it keeps me from getting a big head. BUT miss stella-luna, i will say i'm so impressed and proud of you! i've never had a two year old before and i enjoy have a little person so much. it's like free entertainment along with constantly keeping me on my toes... for various reasons. i'm so thrilled with how much you are learning. it's so exciting to see you get older and more independent! why people get sad when their babes grow older, i don't get... I Love having a toddler; you are my buddy and i love being your mommabird.

 Tidbits & Updates:

you like when your dolls, stuffed animals or even inanimate objects are affectionate. for example, you were holding two spatulas (which are apparently really cool, btw) and said "tee-sis" aka kisses and "hugging" - because it's completely normal to have spatula's kiss and hug. you are an affectionate little person in real life too. you still love to give hugs, snuggle, and to be held tight from time to time. 

you loooooove your cousin josie. you enjoy all your cousins, but josie is your idol. you've gone to calling her JoJo and graduated to Josie with a lisp. (see video of how upsetting it was to not be able to visit Josie at dinner time. turn your sound down a little bit). she was here this past week and you wanted to sit on her lap and give her hugs and kisses over and over. obsessed?

you are napping later, around 230/3 p.m. is a typical time for me to put you down and you sleep for about two hours.  (hey, play hard, sleep hard right?) sometimes you are waking up 1/2 way through and then i snuggle with you on the floor for the second part and you go back to sleep. i'm not sure if your crib is getting to small, but there are times if you randomly get up at night that i will put you on the floor with a blanket and pillow and you sleep the remainder fine. it makes it funny to hear you try to open your own door in the morning though. recently while staying in your crib i did hear "good morning, pooh" and so on to all your animals in bed through the monitor. cute.

you are an outdoorsy gal. you are certainly content for most of the day indoors, but you love to explore outdoors and you know exactly where you want to go in the hood - jumping in leaves, the neighbor's fish pond, the park down the street, the church parking lot with buses, mo & brady's porch. i've been able to do some yard work (ok, let's be honest, light raking) while you are outside playing and that's been great. i love that we've reached the point in mobility where i don't have to follow you around like glue. 

we've been collecting a few items from outside now and then (treasures perhaps) and keeping them in a nice little glass in our kitchen.

eating...

really nothing new. are you a vegetarian? it's rare you eat meat anymore. lunch meat you won't even think about touching (which i guess is fine bc is it really that good for us??). and maybe now and then you'll eat a meatball or chicken in my salsa dish. overall still a good eater, but won't turn down sweets if offered. you love cheese. this might be why you've had some recent constipation issues. poor girl. you are interested in practicing cutting things with a knife.

you love your grandparents so much!

music snob? yes that is you. there is no hesitation in what you want to listen to. if you don't like a song, you'll get dada or my hand and bring us in the room and say "all done." dancing to your favorite songs brings you delight and you prefer to dance with dada. you don't like my singing. i was singing and you told me "no. no. no." i even informed you that i get paid to sing for people, but that didn't seem to change your mind. i guess i can't compete with patty griffin and mumford and sons. i mean, who can? you also love to repeat song lyrics and start to say some words from the song before it's started much. i don't have the gift of quick song recognition or lyrics sooooo i hope you have this gift. 

overall, kid, you are a typical tot i presume. i'm having so much fun with you and can't wait for what TWO brings! thank you for making me laugh and smile so much. 

happy second birthday to my favorite bird in the whole wide world.

"tee-sis!" 

xxxoxxx

love moma